Flies can be a real nuisance, especially during the summer heatwave when windows are open. But there's a simple natural fly repellent trick that may help keep them at bay – and it involves one 37p fruit.
How the Lemon and Clove Trick Works
In a video posted on TikTok by Chantel Mila, she revealed that just one fruit and one spice could work wonders in keeping flies away. As an added bonus, your home will smell absolutely lovely too.
Chantel suggested slicing a lemon in half and studding the flesh with dried cloves. Both citrus and cloves are scents that flies absolutely detest, so positioning the fruit on your windowsill near open windows or dotted around your kitchen should help keep the unwelcome guests at bay.
In a video outlining five cleaning hacks "everyone should know", she said: "To repel flies, place cloves inside a lemon and place it around your kitchen."
Why Flies Hate Lemon and Cloves
Interior designer Keely Smith from JD Elite Interiors previously shed light on why the clove and lemon trick is so effective against flies, explaining that the insects are "incredibly sensitive to scent".
She explained: "Flies are incredibly sensitive to scent. Lemons release limonene, which is a strong citrus compound that interferes with the way flies find food. When you stick cloves into the lemon, you're adding eugenol, which has a sharp, almost spicy scent that flies dislike even more.
"The combination of lemon and cloves throws off their senses and makes the area smell too intense and confusing for them to stick around."
Additional Fly-Repelling Hacks
Another of Chantel's clever tricks involved bringing a pot of water to the boil on the hob with some cloves, lemon slices, and vanilla extract. She claimed this "makes your home smell amazing", and since it shares the same fly-repelling ingredients as her previous hack, it's likely to help keep flies at bay too.
Lemons aren't just useful for deterring flies, though. Chantel's first hack in her video recommends filling a cloth bag with dried rice and a few drops of lemon oil and popping it in your wardrobe to tackle mould and moisture.
Other Natural Ways to Repel Flies
- Keep Things Clean: Remove food scraps, spills, and garbage quickly. Clean pet food bowls and litter boxes regularly. Take out rubbish frequently and use bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Use Natural Repellents: Essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, citronella, and lemongrass can be mixed with water in a spray bottle and spritzed around doors, windows, and surfaces. A vinegar and dish soap trap – a bowl of apple cider vinegar with a few drops of dish soap – attracts and traps flies.
- Outdoor Tips: Remove standing water and decaying organic matter, mow lawns, and trim vegetation regularly.
- Plants That Repel Flies: Basil, mint, marigold, and bay leaf are known to deter flies. Place pots near entryways or windows.
With the UK bracing itself for yet another heatwave this week, many of us have been flinging our windows wide open in a bid to let in as much fresh air as possible. However, leaving your windows open leaves your home exposed to unwanted visitors such as flies, which are drawn indoors in search of food. This simple, low-cost hack offers an effective and pleasant-smelling solution.
